frost-protected shallow foundation
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frost-protected shallow foundation
A construction method that uses insulation and drainage to artificially raise the frost line of soil to a level that allows relatively short—shallow—foundations.In cold climates,building foundations must extend below the frost line to a depth of soil that does not freeze. Freezing causes soil to heave upward and then sink back again, shifting everything on top of the soil. It does not result in a very stable building base unless one takes steps to prevent soil movement.
The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia by Denise L. Evans, JD & O. William Evans, JD. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.